Artistic awards
In the class where we were preparing for our mock trial, our tutor informed us it was in a County Court, before a District Judge, and checked we would know how to address the judge. "Sir," replied Jessica instantly. "Yes..." hesitated the tutor, "you could call the District Judge 'Sir.' What else could you call a District Judge?"
General consternation. The system of addressing judges in the UK is very complicated, being determined both by the type of judge and by the court. Eg, a Circuit Judge sitting at a normal Crown Court will be "Your Honour," but anyone (including a Circuit Judge) who is sitting at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) is "My Lord/Lady," and so is a a High Court Judge sitting at the Crown Court. A Circuit Judge will also be promoted to "My Lord/Lady" if sitting at the High Court, and a Master is addressed simply as "Master."
So everyone's racking their brains for a situation in which a District Judge gets promoted to "Your Honour," and the tutor said, "There is a certain class of District Judge who get quite offended if you call them 'Sir'." (With a twinkle:) "They prefer 'Madam'."
I watched Frozen River the other night and it was brilliant. I haven't seen the other films nominated at the Oscars in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role yet, but I'd venture to say the lead in Frozen River deserved her nod.
It reminded me of a long ago conversation with a fellow feminist who was a little bit ahead of me on identity politics. She was objecting to the word "actress" and to categories such as "best actor/actress in a leading role." We don't say authoress anymore, or chairwoman, she pointed out. Which is true. And artistic endeavours are not like sporting endeavours, where men have an instant advantage due to superior height and strength. So why divide the awards by gender?
It's not a conversation I've been a part of many times in the intervening years, and to be honest it's still not something I can be sure enough of to be vociferous. And I still don't find it natural to call a woman an "actor," although I am getting more used to it as time goes by and the industry takes up the habit. And at the time, her logic had me pretty much convinced. Words distinguishing men and women in particular employments are being phased out, and perhaps rightfully so. And there is no particular reason to think that Jack Nicholson has the advantage over Meryl Streep that Rafael Nadal presumably has over, say, Maria Sharapova. Perhaps it would be better to divide the awards for best performance in a lead or supporting role by genre of film (comedy, drama, historical, romance) rather than by gender.
General consternation. The system of addressing judges in the UK is very complicated, being determined both by the type of judge and by the court. Eg, a Circuit Judge sitting at a normal Crown Court will be "Your Honour," but anyone (including a Circuit Judge) who is sitting at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) is "My Lord/Lady," and so is a a High Court Judge sitting at the Crown Court. A Circuit Judge will also be promoted to "My Lord/Lady" if sitting at the High Court, and a Master is addressed simply as "Master."
So everyone's racking their brains for a situation in which a District Judge gets promoted to "Your Honour," and the tutor said, "There is a certain class of District Judge who get quite offended if you call them 'Sir'." (With a twinkle:) "They prefer 'Madam'."
I watched Frozen River the other night and it was brilliant. I haven't seen the other films nominated at the Oscars in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role yet, but I'd venture to say the lead in Frozen River deserved her nod.
It reminded me of a long ago conversation with a fellow feminist who was a little bit ahead of me on identity politics. She was objecting to the word "actress" and to categories such as "best actor/actress in a leading role." We don't say authoress anymore, or chairwoman, she pointed out. Which is true. And artistic endeavours are not like sporting endeavours, where men have an instant advantage due to superior height and strength. So why divide the awards by gender?
It's not a conversation I've been a part of many times in the intervening years, and to be honest it's still not something I can be sure enough of to be vociferous. And I still don't find it natural to call a woman an "actor," although I am getting more used to it as time goes by and the industry takes up the habit. And at the time, her logic had me pretty much convinced. Words distinguishing men and women in particular employments are being phased out, and perhaps rightfully so. And there is no particular reason to think that Jack Nicholson has the advantage over Meryl Streep that Rafael Nadal presumably has over, say, Maria Sharapova. Perhaps it would be better to divide the awards for best performance in a lead or supporting role by genre of film (comedy, drama, historical, romance) rather than by gender.